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The invasion of Galinsoga quadriradiata into high altitudes is strongly shaped by AMF communities of mountain ranges
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  • Gang Liu,
  • Ruiling Liu,
  • Benjamin R. Lee,
  • Xingjiang Song,
  • Wengang Zhang,
  • Zhihong Zhu,
  • Yan Shi
Gang Liu
Shaanxi Normal University

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Ruiling Liu
Shaanxi Normal University
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Benjamin R. Lee
Carnegie Museum of Natural History
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Xingjiang Song
Shaanxi Normal University
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Wengang Zhang
Shaanxi Normal University
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Zhihong Zhu
Shaanxi Normal University
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Yan Shi
Shaanxi Normal University
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Abstract

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) community changes sharply along elevation, and population-level adaptation of invasive plant to mycorrhizal communities may also occur. We conducted an experiment to compare the growth performance of elevational populations of invasive Galinsoga quadriradiata that were inoculating with AMF communities from across the same range of elevations. Galinsoga quadriradiata performed best when inoculated with AMF form the same elevation where the invader was collected, and consistently poorly when inoculated with AMF from the highest elevation that has not been invaded. The growth of G. quadriradiata was promoted by AMF inoculation in polyculture but suppressed in monoculture. Our results suggest that the population-level adaptation of G. quadriradiata to mycorrhizal communities changed along elevation. Biotic interactions with AMF communities and native plant competitors play important roles in limiting plant invasion into high-altitude area. It provides new insight to mechanisms for plant invasion in mountains.